The last scene in Blackadder goes forth is very moving. I have heard the cast refused to redo it so they slowed it down and then someone had the idea of fading the poppies in, a really good effect
One small correction: Lord Edmund Blackadder, Edmund Blackadder Esq. and Captain Edmund Blackadder are all _descendants_ of Prince Edmund Plantagenet, the Black Adder. It's not a single time-travelling character, but four different members of the same family.
But it might be fair to say that Edmund the Black Adder and his closest friends kept being reincarnated over and over as themselves ... Except that Baldrick got stupider each incarnation, whilst Blackadder got more cunning but less lucky in a way.
@@ArkadiBolschek actually that can't be the case, since we see all four of the Blackadders dying BEFORE having the chance to sire children, and definitely even if there were illegitimate children, they wouldn't share the same surname.
When I was in the Australian Army I was injured in a fire, then taken to a local military hospital for treatment for burns. The Army doctor that treated me was a 'Col. Darling', who happened to be a burns specialist. This was in the 80s, so well before the series, but always gave me a chuckle when 'Darling's' name was mentioned during the series.
@@wes11bravo I was in the French foreign legion and among English speakers Blackadder and Sharpe jokes made the rounds. 'Oh Darling there you are! Indeed I am, fancy a tipple auld boy? 3 rounds a minute!
One thing the WW1 series got wrong was the idea that the Generals were always 35 miles behind the fighting. Statistics showed that the life expectancy of Generals was not far behind the fighting men's.
@@desthomas8747Woah ... I found this hard to believe so I just spent 10 minutes trying to figure it out and I can't believe you're actually right, apparently most generals were killed by Artillery fire but almost one fifth of them were genuinely KIA ... I guess the Jerry's were smart enough to see where comms are running and target the heads
I was deployed with the British Royal Signals in Kosovo 1999-2000. One of our sergeants was a Blackadder. I thought it was a call sign until I saw his name tag. A great tour with a great bunch of guys!
Realy were you fighing us evil Serbs to protect so called poor Albaninas who who nothing to defend against us so you been told to you by propaganda against my people shame on you all politicians starting with Winston Churchill the far colonial slob.
The fact that Captain Darling was an insufferable pratt for most of the Goes Forth series. But when he talks about going back to work, marrying Doris. He suddenly became a human being. It helped make the final scene so emotionally moving.
I am a big fan of the Blackadder TV Series and the final shot when the 4 men going over the top all die in combat always leaves a lump in my throat. Great video.
Without question my favourite British comedy series. The episode’s interwoven into real historic events show the writing genius of Richard Curtis and Ben Elton and the acting brilliance of the cast. A character you left out, but whom added so much was Lord Flasheart played by the irreplaceable Rik Mayall. Again in both episodes Flasheart appeared in he embodied the boys own adventure hero of the high seas and aerial dog fights respectively. A great episode Chris and fascinating to hear of the real life stories of these names many of us know well. Keep up the good work and we all look forward to hearing more tales from history in 2025. Happy new year and hurrah..!! 😁
My Grandad fought in world war one. He returned home with life changing injuries having lost family and friends.That final scene is so touching it brings a tear to my eye every time
I have heard series 5 was intended to be set in the 60s with series 6 set in prehistoric times, though they never got made, so they could have done a Victorian Blackadder
I'm 75. WWI had a significant impact on my mothers family, involving her father being badly wounded, cared for by a nurse for 1.5 years, who showed up at hs smal village RRStation asking or him ca 1921-22. Scandal destroyed the family by 1924. All went seperate ways. Casualties withon the family continued till 1953 and grandfathers ignored death. RAISED to hate him, he's a good man I have come to understand because I've tahen the 'easy' trouble to better understand him through the archives and the memories of a few who were not hostile. May Pte Cary Lawson Moores, of Moores Settlement, Pte Royal Canadian Highlanders (twice wounded at the front and romanced in recovery) be forgiven the common sins of his day.
The whole of Australia too mate... every little 2 bob town has diggers memorials.. You cdnt get in the 1st AIF if you had holes in your teeth!! The best we had.. dashed against the mud!!
@baabaabaa-El Fickled fate but no matter because strong genes carry on even when fate skips a generation. Never, ever understimate the balls your grandchildren might show. It's in the genes as your parents, or grandparents proove.
Lt. George: a serious candidate for “Upper Class Twit of the Year.” Great episode. I’m Canadian but loved Blackadder reruns. The execution of the leaders of the Easter Rising went a long way toward galvanizing the moderate Irish population against English rule.
Thankyou for another great history vid. Always find it sad hearing about these young men who fell in WWI. Many of them didn't really know what they were getting in to. An amazing story for me is my Grandad. Belfast, joined the Calvary at 17yrs old and straight to war in 1914. Survived the whole war including losing the horses and fighting in the Somme. End of the war he hopped ont the first troop ship going south which was to Aussie, then onto New Zealand in 1921. Have been finding out though that it did do alot of damage to his person. But they never really helped those poor men back then. It was just get on with it attitude.
That attitude continued for a long time. My father entered WWII underaged. He landed his burning TBM on a jeep carrier while severely injured to save his crew. He hit his head on the steel behind him and his officer’s gun jammed into his hip. He could no speak snd could hear the commands to push the plane overboard. His16 year old radio man ran through flames and pulled him out. My father also had what now be called PTSD from seeing his best friend die during training. Treatment for the physical injuries consisted of tying him to his bunk until he regained consciousness. He had horrific nightmares, a permanent, painful limp and hearing loss. He also came out with malaria but the jeep carrier had gone down with all his medical records and he was refused treatment. Something similar happened to a friend who returned from Vietnam badly injured and with severe PTSD. He was told not to talk to anyone about the things he’d done and seen. My son was a chopper pilot in Afghanistan and Iraq and has received excellent treatment for injuries sustained to his neck andsfiulders because the Army bought the cheaper of two helmets. He sees private doctors. We send them off with parades and then ignore or vilify them when they come back damaged in body and especially mind.
My Great Grandfather also joined a cavalry regiment (North Irish Horse) in Belfast at the outbreak of the war in 1914. Thankfully all three made it through "the whole show".
Nice one Chris! Blackadder goes forth! Brilliantly witty, it had me nearly wetting myself many times, and playing Baldrick got Tony Robinson a Knighthood. Who'd have thought it! Have a great new year Chris!
You must have delved deeply to uncover so much about such diverse cast. We still have in Dundee a long established law firm by the name of Blackadders.
Excellent documentary. Such worthy Officers and Men alike. While I served as a humble Signalman. (Royal Signals), my Grandfather was a Lt Col and a Staff Officer.
I thought that people had examined Captain Darling’s medals and found he had medals for bravery thus making it more likely that he was suffering undiagnosed PTSD.
Apparently, the Blackadder series was used in universities in Britain to identify actual periods of British history. Making studies easier to identify their time-lines.
Thanks! Saved to, "Favorites." I don't know what to make of British television. So many American shows had their basis in BBC programs. I know we owe a debt to the Isles and their storytelling. I encountered, "Blackadder," on TH-cam a few years ago - and went to binge-watching as many clips as were available. I'd only known Rowan Atkinson as, "Mr. Bean," Hugh Laurie as, "House," and Stephen Frye as a jovial host of travel programs. I had no idea they had an extensive early history as a troupe of performers that succeeded, "Monty Python." I caught snippets of, "Blackadder," from the first series through the third. I thought it interesting that they followed generations - and how the program changed historically. They kept the same theme song. I also believe I saw the entire final episode ending in the principal characters going "over the top." In a short time - maybe a week - I had come to appreciate the show and the characters. Even though I didn't have the full experience of those who had followed the series - when they showed the field at the end with the theme gently playing, I think I almost cried. It was a comedy - but that last scene hit home. I'm sorry: I wanted to praise you for your research and for sharing this ironic story with us. The coincidences are so striking as to make me wonder whether the show runners actually consulted a listing of British troops and chose names at random - or by some design. You know there's an American historian who runs a channel called, "The History Guy" - one of my most-visited channels. Your efforts here has prompted a token donation and my subscribing. Thank you!
Did not Blackadder serve in the Tanganyika Rifles? (Also fictional, as it was German territory). If this is so, he would have been an officer some years before 1914. If he rose from the ranks it would have had to be a meteoric rise for him to be at the battle of Mbuto(?) Gorge where he saves Haig's life from mango wielding Pygmies. Still, a very well put together piece History Chap!
The Blackadder character name was inspired by Doctor Eric Blackadder, the Chief Medical Officer for the BBC during the 1970s and early 80s. Born in Pittenweem, Fife, 1927. He died in 2015.
The was a Battle of Britain pilot by the name of Blackadder and he served with 25 Squadron . In the best traditions of the name Blackadder, he survived The Battle and the war.
Robert Blackadder (died 28 July 1508) was a medieval Scottish prelate, diplomat and politician, who was Abbot of Melrose, Bishop-elect of Aberdeen and Bishop of Glasgow; when the latter was elevated to an archbishopric in 1492, he became the first ever Archbishop of Glasgow. Blackadder died while en route to Jerusalem on pilgrimage. His Father came from Tulliallan in Fife.
i never knew you lived right here in worcester chris. anyway, have you ever thought of doing a video walk of the city while talking through the battle of worcester? i dont recall ever seeing anyone do this and the battle seems largely ovelooked these days which is a little sad being it was such a significant event in english history. keep up the great work and if i come across you in one of our great pubs i shall ertainly buy you a pint.
I love how you cover these stories that most people would never think to research and yet we learn a lot about good people like General Blackadder who felt awful about having to condemn an Irish Republican to death.
PS I highly recommend Michael James Nugent's book 'It Was an Awful Sunday' which gives a heartrending account of the 2nd Inniskillings' involvement in the battle of Festubert, May 1915.
@@davidcoleman757 I'll keep an eye out for it mate, sounds good. The best (amongst many) lve read is taken from the average Diggers diaries... rather than the Brass. Brilliant book, it should be compulsory reading for high school students (in the faint hope we one day cease our idiocy). The Broken Years by Bill Gammage. If you can find it, it's the best (worst?) I've come across.
@@baabaabaa-El Thanks for the recommendation. My all-time go-to for WWI reads is Martin Middlebrook's 'The First Day on the Somme.' I totally agree that soldier's accounts make the most compelling reading, though there are exceptions like Carton de Wiart's 'Happy Odyssey'. Happy New Year.
@davidcoleman757 Middlebrook's book is excellent, sad and horrific.. pity we as beings don't learn from it mate. You will definitely like Gammage's.. full of individual's thoughts as, or just after the events. Happy New Year to you and yours.👍🏼
Greetings from Colorado USA, just found your channel and truly enjoyed it. Love your upbeat voice and the research. Keep up the great work. I have liked and subscribed. Happy New Year to abs your family.
Excellent! There was a time when it seemed like every presentation in the Army started with a relevant clip from Blackadder IV. “Security’s not a dirty word Blackadder…”
Great video. Blackadder was a fantastic series, especially the civil war episode. Just a thought, but have you ever thought about doing a piece on the Sandringham company and what parts of "All the kings men" with David Jason are true ? Anyway, Happy Newyear.
A fascinating video Chris. Thank you for sharing it with us. I love Blackadder and regularly rewatch it. The final line that he utters to his friends stays with me "good luck everyone" and the fact that we never find out what Baldrick's final cunning plan is.
My Grandfather was badly wounded and survived the horrendous journey to the UK in a ships hold surrounded by screaming and dying men. While in the UK his unit "went over the top" on his return he found they no longer existed. He was given the job of guarding ammunition trains. Not one person has ever been able to find out what happened to them they just marched into the smoke and never came back.
Chris, you’ve gone and done it again, having me in an emotive outburst of tears with the unfairness & tragic loss in conflict. You would know well yourself the majority of people “came home” from the conflict, but our emotive mind seems to overpower rational thought, so it becomes easier to imagine “everyone wiped out” compared to real casualty lists. But the General Blackadder had us gobsmacked At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them. 🫡
The Leicester connection with the real Blackadder was interesting - that was the location of the Battalion HQ for 7 Royal Anglian in the 1980s. The location for the opening titles was Cavalry Barracks at Colchester, where the 7 Royal Anglian shooting team stayed during training before Skill At Arms Competitions at Bisley- it was and is a bit surreal seeing the familiar buildings behind the parade.
It's been a tradition of mine to watch the Blackadder series around Christmas and new years, it never gets old. Fascinating to learn about those that served with the same names!
4:15 Brave Blackadder ran away. Bravely ran away, away! When danger reared its ugly head, He bravely turned his tail and fled. And was awarded the _Military Cross_ .
No but the fourth season "Blackadder Goes Forth" mentions Guy Fawkes in a joke. From the episode "Major Star": Blackadder- "Oh God! We’re in serious serious trouble here. If the General ever finds out that Gorgeous Georgina is, in fact, a strapping six footer from the rough end of the trench, which will precipitate the fastest execution since someone said, ‘this Guy Fawkes bloke, do we let him off, or wot?’
Blackadder and "allo allo" ( set in a french village under german occupation.. also british production and i believe it was also produced by the BBC) are one of my favorite shows. The actor that played baldrick, Tony robbinson, later early 90s till well current day was the host of "time team" following real deal archaeologists and professors doing excavations all over the UK and some abroad.
Amazing research and an impeccable presentation, as usual. The name of the real Lt. George, Athelstan, is a very old, and rare, English/Saxon name which I remember seeing only once when read "Ivanhoe" for the first time nearly 55 years ago (I am 65). If I remember correctly he loved lady Rowena who only had eyes for Ivanhoe, poor Athelstan! PS: Best wishes for 2025 from your, most probably, only Argentinian subscriber. Cheers! 🤩🤩
Great research, very interesting, thanks for compiling this video. The opening credits of Blackadder IV were film on the parade square of the Cavalry Barracks, Colchester Garrison sadly mostly demolished due to the new Merville barracks
Could you do a video on the British generals of the 1916 Rising? They were General Sir John Maxwell, Brigadier General William Henry Muir Lowe, and Brigadier General Charles Blackader.
Glad to see the correct spelling of name the Blackader name, incidentally, you could have mentioned the middle name used which remains used by current member, 'Gault' .
That would be fascinating, the rising was actually very unpopular among the civilians. But the reprisals carried out by the British caused public opinion to change.
A VERY very Happy New Year I wish to you indeed, Chris old bean, cos WOW, I mean WOOOOOOOWWW, TWO real-life Blackadders, one a REAL Captain and the other a General (the latter of whom can sorta stand in for the non-existence of a real-life General Melchet for sure), and real versions of Captain Darling (THANK GOD that HE, the REAL Captain Darling, DID survive the hell of WWI and married his girl, even if he very sadly did still die too young in the 1930s), Lieutenant George AND Private Baldrick, the last two sadly dying just months into the War in different battles... OMG, just HOW do you keep on surprising us so much, eh, our British military history giving superstar mucker? THIS was the PERFECT video indeed from you to round off this year. And on that note, I once again wish you a VERY very Happy New Year, Chris old boy, even though some events for tomorrow in the UK have had to be cancelled cos of yet more damn bad weather conditions that're gonna kickstart us and New Year off on Wednesday itself. And certainly, WHAT A YEAR it's been in terms of how many AMAZING videos you've gifted upon us, and I have had a WIZARD time this month alone doing and being absolutely wowed and amazed by some of your Sudanese Campaign ones from two years ago *big smiles*. AND, for my Christmas Day movie watch, I FINALLY DID see the 60s Charlton Heston lead piece of 'Khartoum' and MAN did I just absolutely LOVE it so much, THAT was definitely the PERFECT film to depict the events surrounding General Charles Gordon and his months in Khartoum itself before very sadly and inevitably meeting what befell him at the hand of the Mahdi's army, who Laurence Olivier himself did an equally fantastic job as as much as Charlton Heston himself as Gordon. So once again, THANK YOU SO MUCH for EVERYTHING you've given this year, dear Chris, including your videos during the 80th anniversary celebration of D-Day itself AND what you posted while I was out in Kefalonia and Tenerife on my first two EVER overseas trips, and we'll be VERY ready indeed for when and what your first 2025 topic will be, YES, SIREE
Was gonna comment early on about a general blackadder with the leicesters came across his name in researching family who served in leicesters had to do a double take lol great video as always great to hear his story
There is a 1999 special called Blackadder Back and Forth that I highly recommend, along with a Blackadder Christmas Carol and Blackadder the Cavalier Years
I would love this documentary even if I wasn't a Blackadder fan. This was extremely interesting and sad... Good work i thoroughly enjoyed this look back at history and the Blackadder connection. Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺
I never assumed Blackadder to be a time traveller outside of the Back and Forth Blackadder special. I took it as different generations of Blackadders through the ages.
I’ve known this since I was a child in Ayrshire and my sister and a friend decided to crank call all the Blackadders in the phone book, singing the Blackadder theme at them. I wouldn’t be surprised if many of them decided to change their names.
And to think there's a real Arthur that is a manager of a bank too. Reminds me of Dad's Army Arthur Lowe, and John Le Mesurier who plays a character named Arthur and was briefly promoted to be a manager in a bank. rip to both great actors. 🤧
Hi Chris, Happy New Year!! A wonderful story really well narrated. Amazing that these characters in the series actually existed in real life. I wonder if the BBC knew? All the best!!
The last scene in Blackadder goes forth is very moving. I have heard the cast refused to redo it so they slowed it down and then someone had the idea of fading the poppies in, a really good effect
Baldrick:yay! The Great War 1914 until 1917”
And your gut just drops.
It's crushingly sad.
it was indeed.
@@DanielGreen-j4c Yep can't watch it even now, without dust getting in my eyes. Very very respectfully done by the cast and crew
Always think that they will survive the war 😢
One small correction: Lord Edmund Blackadder, Edmund Blackadder Esq. and Captain Edmund Blackadder are all _descendants_ of Prince Edmund Plantagenet, the Black Adder. It's not a single time-travelling character, but four different members of the same family.
But it might be fair to say that Edmund the Black Adder and his closest friends kept being reincarnated over and over as themselves ... Except that Baldrick got stupider each incarnation, whilst Blackadder got more cunning but less lucky in a way.
@@marieroberts5664 I feel like the video might be taking assumptions from the “Back and Forth” movie special
@@marieroberts5664No, they were descendants. Baldrick even mentions that his family had been in the service of blackatter's family for centuries.
@@ArkadiBolschek actually that can't be the case, since we see all four of the Blackadders dying BEFORE having the chance to sire children, and definitely even if there were illegitimate children, they wouldn't share the same surname.
@@CalumCarlyle Nobody says they were _direct_ descendants 🤷♂
When I was in the Australian Army I was injured in a fire, then taken to a local military hospital for treatment for burns. The Army doctor that treated me was a 'Col. Darling', who happened to be a burns specialist. This was in the 80s, so well before the series, but always gave me a chuckle when 'Darling's' name was mentioned during the series.
@@garyrogers6761- "hello, Darling." The joke never got old, haha
When I was in the Australian Army, the only people I called Darling were pregnant 10 minutes later. 🤣🤣
@l1a146 - haha, Lord Flashheart!
Hahahaha!!
My grandad served in the ME and NG.. 2nd AIF.
There was a bloke who's last name was Bastard, he had pics did grandad!!
2/14th Batt.
@@wes11bravo I was in the French foreign legion and among English speakers Blackadder and Sharpe jokes made the rounds. 'Oh Darling there you are! Indeed I am, fancy a tipple auld boy? 3 rounds a minute!
General Melchet:' We're right behind you. - Captain Blackadder: "About 35 miles behind you"". 😂
One thing the WW1 series got wrong was the idea that the Generals were always 35 miles behind the fighting. Statistics showed that the life expectancy of Generals was not far behind the fighting men's.
@@desthomas8747Woah ... I found this hard to believe so I just spent 10 minutes trying to figure it out and I can't believe you're actually right, apparently most generals were killed by Artillery fire but almost one fifth of them were genuinely KIA ... I guess the Jerry's were smart enough to see where comms are running and target the heads
“Yes Prat in the back,” Flash
The 1:1 scale model of land gained was briliant satire and commentary.
I was deployed with the British Royal Signals in Kosovo 1999-2000. One of our sergeants was a Blackadder. I thought it was a call sign until I saw his name tag. A great tour with a great bunch of guys!
Thanks for sharing your memories.
Great coincidence!
I was in Kosovo 99/2000 with the green jackets
Realy were you fighing us evil Serbs to protect so called poor Albaninas who who nothing to defend against us so you been told to you by propaganda against my people shame on you all politicians starting with Winston Churchill the far colonial slob.
I was in Kosovo in 99/00 with the Canadian RCR Battle Group.
The fact that Captain Darling was an insufferable pratt for most of the Goes Forth series. But when he talks about going back to work, marrying Doris. He suddenly became a human being. It helped make the final scene so emotionally moving.
Excellent acting.
'Their seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not be blotted out.
Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore.'
I am a big fan of the Blackadder TV Series and the final shot when the 4 men going over the top all die in combat always leaves a lump in my throat. Great video.
For crying out loud it is a comedy show.
@@anthonyeaton5153
A comedy show can have heart
Without question my favourite British comedy series. The episode’s interwoven into real historic events show the writing genius of Richard Curtis and Ben Elton and the acting brilliance of the cast.
A character you left out, but whom added so much was Lord Flasheart played by the irreplaceable Rik Mayall. Again in both episodes Flasheart appeared in he embodied the boys own adventure hero of the high seas and aerial dog fights respectively.
A great episode Chris and fascinating to hear of the real life stories of these names many of us know well.
Keep up the good work and we all look forward to hearing more tales from history in 2025.
Happy new year and hurrah..!! 😁
“Rhymes with ‘clucking bell.’” You’ve just become my fav ! Thanks for this.
My Grandad fought in world war one. He returned home with life changing injuries having lost family and friends.That final scene is so touching it brings a tear to my eye every time
'More coffee, Captain?'
"No thank you, darling"
A shame they skipped the Victorian era. I'm sure Blackadder could have got up to some skullduggery during the industrial revolution.
So much they could have had a go at.
Blackadder 3 was set in early industrial revoloution
I think there was a Christmas special featuring “nursie “ as queen Vicky
I have heard series 5 was intended to be set in the 60s with series 6 set in prehistoric times, though they never got made, so they could have done a Victorian Blackadder
Blackadder's Christmas Carol:)
I'm 75. WWI had a significant impact on my mothers family, involving her father being badly wounded, cared for by a nurse for 1.5 years, who showed up at hs smal village RRStation asking or him ca 1921-22. Scandal destroyed the family by 1924. All went seperate ways. Casualties withon the family continued till 1953 and grandfathers ignored death. RAISED to hate him, he's a good man I have come to understand because I've tahen the 'easy' trouble to better understand him through the archives and the memories of a few who were not hostile. May Pte Cary Lawson Moores, of Moores Settlement, Pte Royal Canadian Highlanders (twice wounded at the front and romanced in recovery) be forgiven the common sins of his day.
The whole of Australia too mate... every little 2 bob town has diggers memorials..
You cdnt get in the 1st AIF if you had holes in your teeth!!
The best we had.. dashed against the mud!!
@baabaabaa-El Fickled fate but no matter because strong genes carry on even when fate skips a generation. Never, ever understimate the balls your grandchildren might show. It's in the genes as your parents, or grandparents proove.
May he rest in peace the brave and loyal Canadians were lions and me as a Brit will always be thankful for the fighting men of the commonwealth
@@baabaabaa-ElThe bronze plaque on our memorial with two columns of names was stolen.
This channel has such a great depth of research and knowledge, this is a great example of the incredible British history in this channel.
Enjoyed that 🙂 As well as the Borders and Fife, Blackadder is a reasonably common surname in the Falkirk area (I went to school with two Blackadders).
Lt. George: a serious candidate for “Upper Class Twit of the Year.” Great episode. I’m Canadian but loved Blackadder reruns.
The execution of the leaders of the Easter Rising went a long way toward galvanizing the moderate Irish population against English rule.
Thankyou for another great history vid. Always find it sad hearing about these young men who fell in WWI. Many of them didn't really know what they were getting in to. An amazing story for me is my Grandad. Belfast, joined the Calvary at 17yrs old and straight to war in 1914. Survived the whole war including losing the horses and fighting in the Somme. End of the war he hopped ont the first troop ship going south which was to Aussie, then onto New Zealand in 1921. Have been finding out though that it did do alot of damage to his person. But they never really helped those poor men back then. It was just get on with it attitude.
But they never really helped those poor men back then. It was just get on with it attitude.
it hasn't changed very much to this day.
That attitude continued for a long time. My father entered WWII underaged. He landed his burning TBM on a jeep carrier while severely injured to save his crew. He hit his head on the steel behind him and his officer’s gun jammed into his hip. He could no speak snd could hear the commands to push the plane overboard. His16 year old radio man ran through flames and pulled him out. My father also had what now be called PTSD from seeing his best friend die during training. Treatment for the physical injuries consisted of tying him to his bunk until he regained consciousness. He had horrific nightmares, a permanent, painful limp and hearing loss. He also came out with malaria but the jeep carrier had gone down with all his medical records and he was refused treatment. Something similar happened to a friend who returned from Vietnam badly injured and with severe PTSD. He was told not to talk to anyone about the things he’d done and seen. My son was a chopper pilot in Afghanistan and Iraq and has received excellent treatment for injuries sustained to his neck andsfiulders because the Army bought the cheaper of two helmets. He sees private doctors. We send them off with parades and then ignore or vilify them when they come back damaged in body and especially mind.
My Great Grandfather also joined a cavalry regiment (North Irish Horse) in Belfast at the outbreak of the war in 1914. Thankfully all three made it through "the whole show".
There is still a law firm in the Dundee-Perth area called Blackadder. They may be related to the Blackadder mentioned in your post.
Thankyou very much for this one.
Every piece of fiction has a sliver of a true story buried in there somewhere.
Well done Sir.
Nice one Chris! Blackadder goes forth! Brilliantly witty, it had me nearly wetting myself many times, and playing Baldrick got Tony Robinson a Knighthood. Who'd have thought it! Have a great new year Chris!
For services to cunning plans
Tony's done a lovely job since presenting actual history. Love that guy. He seems simultaneously smart, quick, and gentle.
OK, your research into work done at the IWM truly is amazing. Absolutely absorbing.
Like ‘King and Country’?
Enjoyed researching it. Loads of stuff if you search on Ancestry.
You must have delved deeply to uncover so much about such diverse cast. We still have in Dundee a long established law firm by the name of Blackadders.
Will you stop shoehorning the damned "diverse" word into arenas in which it has no place, please.
@@Happyheretic2308 People can be diverse, dude, even in the military.
Excellent documentary. Such worthy Officers and Men alike. While I served as a humble Signalman. (Royal Signals), my Grandfather was a Lt Col and a Staff Officer.
God Jul og godt Nyt År Chris.Thank you for many really exciting lectures in the past year.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Wonderful stories...
Every time I hear the name "Garhwal" I think of Biggles, who according to the backstory was born there.
I thought that people had examined Captain Darling’s medals and found he had medals for bravery thus making it more likely that he was suffering undiagnosed PTSD.
Is that why Darling had a eye twitch?
These are such a pleasure. Happy New Year Chris.
Apparently, the Blackadder series was used in universities in Britain to identify actual periods of British history. Making studies easier to identify their time-lines.
Another fascinating video. Cheers chap, happy new year!
Thanks! Saved to, "Favorites."
I don't know what to make of British television. So many American shows had their basis in BBC programs. I know we owe a debt to the Isles and their storytelling.
I encountered, "Blackadder," on TH-cam a few years ago - and went to binge-watching as many clips as were available. I'd only known Rowan Atkinson as, "Mr. Bean," Hugh Laurie as, "House," and Stephen Frye as a jovial host of travel programs. I had no idea they had an extensive early history as a troupe of performers that succeeded, "Monty Python."
I caught snippets of, "Blackadder," from the first series through the third. I thought it interesting that they followed generations - and how the program changed historically. They kept the same theme song.
I also believe I saw the entire final episode ending in the principal characters going "over the top." In a short time - maybe a week - I had come to appreciate the show and the characters. Even though I didn't have the full experience of those who had followed the series - when they showed the field at the end with the theme gently playing, I think I almost cried. It was a comedy - but that last scene hit home.
I'm sorry: I wanted to praise you for your research and for sharing this ironic story with us. The coincidences are so striking as to make me wonder whether the show runners actually consulted a listing of British troops and chose names at random - or by some design.
You know there's an American historian who runs a channel called, "The History Guy" - one of my most-visited channels.
Your efforts here has prompted a token donation and my subscribing. Thank you!
Thanks for your support & for watching my video.
Chris, like all your videos was so well researched and presented with friendly, confident and enjoyment. It was fun and enlightening! Thank you! Rob
Bravo Chris. Many thanks for uploading.
Loved "Blackadder Goes Forth ". And this documentary is spot on and gives the fictional characters a whole new meaning. 👍🇬🇧
The Blackadder series was excellent. Stephen Fry could have starred in a bio movie of Robert Blackadder.
Enjoy your work Chap. Happy New Year.
Did not Blackadder serve in the Tanganyika Rifles? (Also fictional, as it was German territory). If this is so, he would have been an officer some years before 1914. If he rose from the ranks it would have had to be a meteoric rise for him to be at the battle of Mbuto(?) Gorge where he saves Haig's life from mango wielding Pygmies. Still, a very well put together piece History Chap!
Mboto Gorge was a truly vicious battle. I wonder how the fruitsalad was.
Thanks for commenting.
Think you mean The Sudan.
Pink Gins all around
They were viciously sharp pieces of mango as Cpt Blackadder graciously reminded him
Thank you, it’s truly lovely to hear these peoples lives. The ones who died, died too young, we owe them so much.
Brilliant, your story telling and research is really inspiring.
"Well, hello Blackadder. All ready for the 'big push'?"
I bet you wish you were going too Darling!!?!!
Very entertaining and beautifully researched well done and thank you.
I highly appreciate your commentary, said in a humoristic tone, it fits the series perfectly! Thank you very much, and happy new year!
Loved the Blackadder series. Happy New Year Chris.
Happy New Year to you too.
The Blackadder character name was inspired by Doctor Eric Blackadder, the Chief Medical Officer for the BBC during the 1970s and early 80s. Born in Pittenweem, Fife, 1927. He died in 2015.
Pittenweem is a gloriously beautiful fishing village in the East Neuk of Fife. I love it to bits.
The was a Battle of Britain pilot by the name of Blackadder and he served with 25 Squadron . In the best traditions of the name Blackadder, he survived The Battle and the war.
Robert Blackadder (died 28 July 1508) was a medieval Scottish prelate, diplomat and politician, who was Abbot of Melrose, Bishop-elect of Aberdeen and Bishop of Glasgow; when the latter was elevated to an archbishopric in 1492, he became the first ever Archbishop of Glasgow. Blackadder died while en route to Jerusalem on pilgrimage. His Father came from Tulliallan in Fife.
Very interesting commentary!! Thank you very much for the hard work you put in😊😊
That was very interesting,fiction and factual coming together Thank you for sharing this
i never knew you lived right here in worcester chris. anyway, have you ever thought of doing a video walk of the city while talking through the battle of worcester? i dont recall ever seeing anyone do this and the battle seems largely ovelooked these days which is a little sad being it was such a significant event in english history. keep up the great work and if i come across you in one of our great pubs i shall ertainly buy you a pint.
Fascinating stuff again Chris. Thanks and a Happy New Year to you and your family. Look forward to your next broadcast.
Breathtaking research - thank you for all your hard work!
Very interesting video ( and also touching ) as usual, Chris.
Thanks and happy New Year!
I love how you cover these stories that most people would never think to research and yet we learn a lot about good people like General Blackadder who felt awful about having to condemn an Irish Republican to death.
Yet another great and interesting tale from Chris, thank you for your efforts keeping history alive and entertaining.
PS I highly recommend Michael James Nugent's book 'It Was an Awful Sunday' which gives a heartrending account of the 2nd Inniskillings' involvement in the battle of Festubert, May 1915.
@@davidcoleman757 I'll keep an eye out for it mate, sounds good.
The best (amongst many) lve read is taken from the average Diggers diaries... rather than the Brass.
Brilliant book, it should be compulsory reading for high school students (in the faint hope we one day cease our idiocy).
The Broken Years by Bill Gammage.
If you can find it, it's the best (worst?) I've come across.
@@baabaabaa-El Thanks for the recommendation. My all-time go-to for WWI reads is Martin Middlebrook's 'The First Day on the Somme.' I totally agree that soldier's accounts make the most compelling reading, though there are exceptions like Carton de Wiart's 'Happy Odyssey'. Happy New Year.
@davidcoleman757
Middlebrook's book is excellent, sad and horrific.. pity we as beings don't learn from it mate.
You will definitely like Gammage's.. full of individual's thoughts as, or just after the events.
Happy New Year to you and yours.👍🏼
Thanks!
My pleasure. Thank you for your support.
Thoroughly entertaining video and genuinely interesting to boot! Thank you!
Well researched, very informative and entertaining! Thanks!
Greetings from Colorado USA, just found your channel and truly enjoyed it. Love your upbeat voice and the research. Keep up the great work. I have liked and subscribed. Happy New Year to abs your family.
Excellent! There was a time when it seemed like every presentation in the Army started with a relevant clip from Blackadder IV.
“Security’s not a dirty word Blackadder…”
As always, interesting facts told in such a lovely way!
Great video. Blackadder was a fantastic series, especially the civil war episode. Just a thought, but have you ever thought about doing a piece on the Sandringham company and what parts of "All the kings men" with David Jason are true ? Anyway, Happy Newyear.
8:34 How difficult to go through life with the name Darling.
Could be worse:
''Derek William Dick (born 25 April 1958), better known by his stage name Fish...''
I had no idea Blackadder was an actual surname. How interesting.
There is a river in The Borders named Blackadder and also a white adder.
A fascinating video Chris. Thank you for sharing it with us. I love Blackadder and regularly rewatch it. The final line that he utters to his friends stays with me "good luck everyone" and the fact that we never find out what Baldrick's final cunning plan is.
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed my video.
Thank you for the time and effort you put into your videos.
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoy my videos.
Very interesting again. Todd Blackadder was a recent new Zealand rugby player
It HAS to be more than coincidence.
And Happy New Year!
My Grandfather was badly wounded and survived the horrendous journey to the UK in a ships hold surrounded by screaming and dying men.
While in the UK his unit "went over the top" on his return he found they no longer existed. He was given the job of guarding ammunition trains. Not one person has ever been able to find out what happened to them they just marched into the smoke and never came back.
He’s an amalgamation of many different but purely British strains of consciousness.
Thanks for commenting.
LOVED THIS! Thank you!
You're so welcome!
That was fascinating. Keep these awesome stories coming to us
Glad you enjoyed it.
Chris, you’ve gone and done it again, having me in an emotive outburst of tears with the unfairness & tragic loss in conflict.
You would know well yourself the majority of people “came home” from the conflict, but our emotive mind seems to overpower rational thought, so it becomes easier to imagine “everyone wiped out” compared to real casualty lists.
But the General Blackadder had us gobsmacked
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them. 🫡
The Leicester connection with the real Blackadder was interesting - that was the location of the Battalion HQ for 7 Royal Anglian in the 1980s. The location for the opening titles was Cavalry Barracks at Colchester, where the 7 Royal Anglian shooting team stayed during training before Skill At Arms Competitions at Bisley- it was and is a bit surreal seeing the familiar buildings behind the parade.
It's been a tradition of mine to watch the Blackadder series around Christmas and new years, it never gets old. Fascinating to learn about those that served with the same names!
❤ History Chap
On behalf of young farmers 1981 Thank your for you research
Sir
Thanks so much Chris
It's good to know that the real Captain Blackadder lived through that horrible war.
4:15 Brave Blackadder ran away.
Bravely ran away, away!
When danger reared its ugly head,
He bravely turned his tail and fled.
And was awarded the _Military Cross_ .
This jolly rhyme is uncannily similar to one sung during Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which refers to King Arthur's knight, Sir Robin (Eric Idle).
There is a very big difference between withdrawing under fire and running away.
@@TheHistoryChap even a ordered retreat is deserving of credit, lest the enemy break you then and there.
I didnunt
Interesting fact: Blackadder was the name of one of Guy Fawkes' accomplices.
Really?
No but the fourth season "Blackadder Goes Forth" mentions Guy Fawkes in a joke. From the episode "Major Star":
Blackadder- "Oh God! We’re in serious serious trouble here. If the General ever finds out that Gorgeous Georgina is, in fact, a strapping six footer from the rough end of the trench, which will precipitate the fastest execution since someone said, ‘this Guy Fawkes bloke, do we let him off, or wot?’
Blackadder and "allo allo" ( set in a french village under german occupation.. also british production and i believe it was also produced by the BBC) are one of my favorite shows. The actor that played baldrick, Tony robbinson, later early 90s till well current day was the host of "time team" following real deal archaeologists and professors doing excavations all over the UK and some abroad.
Wonderful stories! Thank you for sharing this neat history!
Amazing research and an impeccable presentation, as usual. The name of the real Lt. George, Athelstan, is a very old, and rare, English/Saxon name which I remember seeing only once when read "Ivanhoe" for the first time nearly 55 years ago (I am 65). If I remember correctly he loved lady Rowena who only had eyes for Ivanhoe, poor Athelstan!
PS: Best wishes for 2025 from your, most probably, only Argentinian subscriber. Cheers! 🤩🤩
Also, more famously, the first king of a united England.
Old Cavalry soldier of the 7th US Cavalry, Custer’s Cav. You rock sir!
Many thanks. I really enjoyed researching this story.
Great research, very interesting, thanks for compiling this video.
The opening credits of Blackadder IV were film on the parade square of the Cavalry Barracks, Colchester Garrison sadly mostly demolished due to the new Merville barracks
The Inniskilling Fusiliers was one of the great regiments.
Strangely just helped an old school firend research his grandfather in WW1 and guess which regiment he was in (despite being a Cockney)?
Could you do a video on the British generals of the 1916 Rising?
They were General Sir John Maxwell, Brigadier General William Henry Muir Lowe, and Brigadier General Charles Blackader.
Glad to see the correct spelling of name the Blackader name, incidentally, you could have mentioned the middle name used which remains used by current member, 'Gault' .
That would be fascinating, the rising was actually very unpopular among the civilians. But the reprisals carried out by the British caused public opinion to change.
No Lord Flashheart, the publicized aviator? 😅
He got stuck in the Suffragette Movement!!
A VERY very Happy New Year I wish to you indeed, Chris old bean, cos WOW, I mean WOOOOOOOWWW, TWO real-life Blackadders, one a REAL Captain and the other a General (the latter of whom can sorta stand in for the non-existence of a real-life General Melchet for sure), and real versions of Captain Darling (THANK GOD that HE, the REAL Captain Darling, DID survive the hell of WWI and married his girl, even if he very sadly did still die too young in the 1930s), Lieutenant George AND Private Baldrick, the last two sadly dying just months into the War in different battles... OMG, just HOW do you keep on surprising us so much, eh, our British military history giving superstar mucker? THIS was the PERFECT video indeed from you to round off this year.
And on that note, I once again wish you a VERY very Happy New Year, Chris old boy, even though some events for tomorrow in the UK have had to be cancelled cos of yet more damn bad weather conditions that're gonna kickstart us and New Year off on Wednesday itself. And certainly, WHAT A YEAR it's been in terms of how many AMAZING videos you've gifted upon us, and I have had a WIZARD time this month alone doing and being absolutely wowed and amazed by some of your Sudanese Campaign ones from two years ago *big smiles*. AND, for my Christmas Day movie watch, I FINALLY DID see the 60s Charlton Heston lead piece of 'Khartoum' and MAN did I just absolutely LOVE it so much, THAT was definitely the PERFECT film to depict the events surrounding General Charles Gordon and his months in Khartoum itself before very sadly and inevitably meeting what befell him at the hand of the Mahdi's army, who Laurence Olivier himself did an equally fantastic job as as much as Charlton Heston himself as Gordon. So once again, THANK YOU SO MUCH for EVERYTHING you've given this year, dear Chris, including your videos during the 80th anniversary celebration of D-Day itself AND what you posted while I was out in Kefalonia and Tenerife on my first two EVER overseas trips, and we'll be VERY ready indeed for when and what your first 2025 topic will be, YES, SIREE
Great review, just love that series.
We watched it in Afghanistan, with the American troops they just couldn't get the humor!
Good stories. Thanks.
According to my friend who was in Afghanistan, there was a Canadian Captain Blackadder out there.
Was gonna comment early on about a general blackadder with the leicesters came across his name in researching family who served in leicesters had to do a double take lol great video as always great to hear his story
There is a 1999 special called Blackadder Back and Forth that I highly recommend, along with a Blackadder Christmas Carol and Blackadder the Cavalier Years
Thanks for sharing.
I would love this documentary even if I wasn't a Blackadder fan.
This was extremely interesting and sad...
Good work i thoroughly enjoyed this look back at history and the Blackadder connection.
Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺
I never assumed Blackadder to be a time traveller outside of the Back and Forth Blackadder special. I took it as different generations of Blackadders through the ages.
Great video!!!! thank You
Yes, but did any of these real people ever have cunning plans?
Ha ha, maybe...
“That’s gobbledyjook” Balders
Well, the real lt George may have been a twenty-minuter regarding his entire time spent in a plane ( woof woof!).
Blackadder is a real surname? That fact adds a happy note to the end of 2024. I love the Blackadder series.
I’ve known this since I was a child in Ayrshire and my sister and a friend decided to crank call all the Blackadders in the phone book, singing the Blackadder theme at them. I wouldn’t be surprised if many of them decided to change their names.
@@lexicornfell7361 About how many Blackadders did you see?
I was born and raised in Bournemouth, where Lt. George lived, and now I live on the Edge of The New Forest, where Darling passed away.
And to think there's a real Arthur that is a manager of a bank too. Reminds me of Dad's Army Arthur Lowe, and John Le Mesurier who plays a character named Arthur and was briefly promoted to be a manager in a bank.
rip to both great actors. 🤧
Stupid boy"
As I recall, there‘a a branch of the Blackadder family in New Zealand!
Hi Chris, Happy New Year!! A wonderful story really well narrated.
Amazing that these characters in the series actually existed in real life. I wonder if the BBC knew?
All the best!!
Thanks for watching my video,, glad you enjoyed it.